FLORIDA
PSC Approves Duke Energy Rate Increase Settlement
The Public Service Commission has approved a settlement to raise Duke Energy’s base rates by $203 million in 2025 and $59 million in 2026. Duke originally sought a $503 million increase in 2025, $98 million in 2026 and $129 million in 2027. As part of the settlement, Duke will recoup costs from customers for 12 new solar facilities. The solar increases are projected to total $12 million in 2025, $71 million in 2026 and $58 million in 2027, the utility said.
More: WUSF
GEORGIA
PSC Clears Path for Georgia Power’s New Fossil Fuel-burning Units
The Public Service Commission voted to certify the cost to build three new oil and gas-burning units Georgia Power says are needed to meet demand.
The PSC already gave Georgia Power a green light to skip the normal competitive bidding process to expand Plant Yates but did not sign off on its estimated capital and construction costs. The vote now sets a cap on the costs that customers are likely to be charged down the line.
Running on natural gas, the three units will have a combined maximum output of 1,300 MW. Powered by diesel, their capacity drops to 1,070 MW.
More: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
INDIANA
CenterPoint Energy Fined for Federal, State Pipeline Violations
CenterPoint Energy has agreed to pay a penalty of nearly $2 million to the state of Indiana for violations of federal pipeline law. The utility will pay $1,997,500 to the state’s general fund, none of which can be recovered through customer rates, according to the Utility Regulatory Commission. CenterPoint violated federal and state pipeline safety standards under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act and state code.
More: Evansville Courier & Press
NIPSCO Brings Solar Project Online
NIPSCO has announced its 200-MW/45-MW Cavalry solar and storage project has become operational. Cavalry is the third solar project in NIPSCO’s generation portfolio. The other two — Indiana Crossroads and Dunns Bridge I — already are operational, with a combined generation capacity of 465 MW.
Elsewhere in the state, CenterPoint Energy issued a request for proposals seeking applications for renewable and thermal energy projects.
More: PV Tech
LOUISIANA
PSC Approves Entergy Rate Hikes
The Public Service Commission has approved two settlements with Entergy to raise customers’ rates. Starting in September, Entergy customers will see an annual increase of about 2% ($4/month). Entergy Gulf States customers will see an increase of 3%. Entergy also agreed to reduce late fees from 5% to 1.5%, a 70% reduction.
More: WWNO
MASSACHUSETTS
Holtec: No State Authority to Ban Radioactive Water Discharge into Bay
Holtec International, the company that was denied a permit to release nearly 1 million gallons of water from the nuclear reactor system at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station as part of its decommissioning, has filed an appeal seeking to discharge the radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay.
Holtec’s appeal hinges on two main ideas: one, that discharge of water from Pilgrim is grandfathered under state law; and two, that federal law preempts state decisions on nuclear waste. The company argues that Massachusetts cannot completely bar the release of radioactive material because that authority lies with the federal government.
The appeals office within the Department of Environmental Protection — the same agency that denied the permit — is the final venue for administrative appeal before the matter could go to court.
More: WBUR
MONTANA
PSC Asks for More Information from NorthWestern Regarding Rate Request
The Public Service Commission said that while NorthWestern Energy provided additional information about its pending rate increase request, the utility still has not adequately explained its “cost of service” studies, or how it allocates costs among different types of customers.
PSC President James Brown said the commission can’t move ahead until NorthWestern complies with the law and provides more information. NorthWestern seeks an 8.3% increase for a typical residential customer and a 17% increase in natural gas costs, although the utility also requests smaller interim increases effective Oct. 1.
More: Daily Montanan
NEBRASKA
Lincoln Board Declares County ‘Nuclear-friendly’
Lincoln County commissioners voted 5-0 to declare Lincoln County “nuclear-friendly” as the Nebraska Public Power District begins to identify locations to upgrade its nuclear capacity. The NPPD recently announced a feasibility study of 16 locations to install small modular reactors. The board’s resolution says the technology “has the potential to vastly extend the lifespan of Gerald Gentleman Station and its economic impact on Lincoln County.”
More: The North Platte Telegraph
OPPD Transitioning Omaha Coal Plant to Natural Gas
Omaha Public Power District CEO Javier Fernandez said the company will transition the north Omaha coal plant to natural gas by 2026. Along with the transition, Fernandez said the plant will retire three other units. The plan still needs approval from SPP.
More: KETV
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Lawsuit Challenges Ability to Rebuild Tx Lines, Charge Ratepayers
A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court claims federal and regional regulators failed to follow regional planning requirements and exempted large transmission projects from the planning process.
The suit names FERC, ISO-NE and Eversource and seeks compensatory damages, court and other legal costs, and an injunction to stop the rebuilding of the 49-mile, X-178 transmission line between Whitefield and Campton. While the suit is the first legal action on the project, others have raised concerns about “asset condition” projects that allow utilities to rebuild or rehabilitate existing transmission lines and charge New England ratepayers for the cost with little or no scrutiny to determine long-range needs and costs.
The $385 million project would be a “complete rebuild” and replace existing wooden towers with larger metal structures. The plaintiffs claim the work would exceed the terms of the 1948 easement over the land.
More: InDepthNH
NEW YORK
Bitcoin Company Sues State for Denying Air Permit
Greenidge Generation filed a lawsuit claiming the Department of Environmental Conservation exceeded its authority by declining to renew the facility’s air permit because it could not comply with greenhouse gas limits that will be phased in through 2050.
The agency ordered the natural gas plant to cease operations on Sept. 9. In 2023, the plant emitted nearly 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
The complaint notes the plant provides “a significant amount of electricity behind-the meter to a cryptocurrency mining operation.” Greenidge brought in $32.4 million for its bitcoin-mining operations in the first six months of this year. In July alone, the company mined 58 bitcoins, valued close to $3.5 million, according to financial documents.
More: Gothamist
OHIO
PUC OKs $100M in Consumer Subsidies for 2 Coal Plants
The Public Utilities Commission approved more than $100 million in subsidies from 2020 by customers to pay for the operation of two coal-fired power plants that were part of the state’s HB6 scandal.
The PUC affirmed the findings of an auditor that the $105 million in charges collected by AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio and AES Ohio were appropriate. Commissioners also found in four other cases that subsidies that date back to 2016, before HB6 became law, were proper.
More: The Columbus Dispatch
RHODE ISLAND
Portsmouth LNG Facility to Remain Active for 5 More Years
The Energy Facility Siting Board has approved Rhode Island Energy’s application to extend the life of the Portsmouth LNG storage facility for the next five years. The facility opened five years ago as a temporary backup to Aquidneck Island’s gas delivery system. As part of the decision, the board also requires the utility to reduce natural gas demand on the island.
More: Providence Journal
SOUTH CAROLINA
Santee Cooper Buys Land for Future Generation
Santee Cooper has announced it will buy more than 150 acres in Hampton County, possibly for a future power plant.
A legislative oversight panel signed off on the company’s $3.2 million land purchase. The site, located in an industrial park, is a backup plan for the utility if it’s unable to partner on a proposed natural gas-fired plant with Dominion Energy in Colleton County. While Santee Cooper is considering the Hampton County land as a secondary option, CEO Marty Watson said the land would have “no specific designated use” at this time.
More: South Carolina Daily Gazette
TEXAS
Judge Denies CenterPoint’s Motion to Withdraw Rate Request
An administrative law judge has denied CenterPoint Energy’s motion to withdraw its pending request to increase rates.
CenterPoint filed an application in March to increase its portion of the average residential monthly bill by $1.25. The company filed a notice to withdraw the request in August after withering criticism over its preparation and response to Hurricane Beryl.
CEO Jason Wells said the company wanted to focus on immediately improving its operations during this hurricane season. However, consumer advocacy groups and municipalities, including the city of Houston, countered that if approved, the withdrawal would deny them the chance to “claw back” certain expenditures.
The judge’s ruling is final unless it is appealed to the Public Utility Commission. Without a withdrawal, CenterPoint’s pending application is paused as it engages in settlement discussions with cities and advocacy groups.
More: Houston Chronicle
VIRGINIA
Dominion Moving Proposed Chesterfield Gas Plant
Dominion Energy says it’s moving the gas-fired power generators it wants to set up in Chesterfield County to the site of its existing power station by the James River.
Dominion initially proposed building the new facility on land next to its Chesterfield Power Station in the James River Industrial Park site. The utility said it decided to change the location based on interactions with the community.
The four new natural gas units will have a combined capacity of 1 GW.
More: Richmond Times-Dispatch